Ore concentrator



B. TOCCIGUILBERT Jan0 2, 1945.

ORE GONCENTRATOR Filed Jan. 5, 1942 2S Las' ATTORNEY UNITED STAT of the pulsating assembly.

' Patented Jan. 2, 1945 s PATENT OFFICE i e ORE coNcENTRAToR y' i Berne Tocci-Guilbert, San Francisco, Calif. Appnatitn January s, 1942, serial n4425519* i Claims. (Cl. 209-455) This invention relates toimprovements more.

concentratorsm andwmo're particularly topulsatoryliutches for separating'iines suspended in l,nowingliquid. i I i Among the objects of the invention is the pro- A `vision of a hutch in which the agitating of the water therein` is localized. e

e Anot er object `is4 the prevention of downward `"suction through the separating means in the upper portion ofthe hutch.

Another object is the provision of an auxiliary f water, supply into the hutch `beneath the separat- I ing means. I

,l Anotnenobjet is to intermittently force the aratingmeans.,,V e, Another object is the interposition `ofa `separatingmeans between the upward ow `from below and the `horizontal ow of water across the separating media Iin the hutch.

A further `object is the provision `of speed and volumetriccontrol fof the pulsating means.

Other Aobjects andadvantages will appear as the descriptionprogresses.

auxiliary water supply upward through the'sepi-H.,

1n Ythis specication and the accompanying i,

drawing the inventionis disclosed in its4 applil cation to oreconcentration. `But it is ,to be understood thatit isfnot limitedto this formbecause git may `be `embfx'lied in modifications f or Intlieafirawing:` x', Fig. lfis a front elevation of a hutch andpul- 4sating assembly constructed and diagrammatically combined in accordance with this invention. The hutch is `broken away in vertical sections `on the line `I---I, Fig. 2, to disclose the structure defined in the/claims following the description.

l Fig. `2 is a side view of thesame 1in vertical section on the line lil-II, Fig. 1.

In this disclosure the term material is intended to more particularly dei-lne `classiiied and menstruum suspendedores containing gold, sil- `ver, platinum and other values associated with quartz, gravel, and other base material either milled orfound in a comminuted state in nature, colloquially known as pay dirt.

It, is ,customary to grade, classify and` other-` wise prepare the material before introducing into the concentrating hutch; different materials require different pretreatment. e

,I The hutchyhas the boXlike-upper portion I, and the` tapered lower portion v2, 'with the outlet gate 3 at the lower end. In the presentinstance the hutch `is Asuspended within the surrounding 3 mobile base.

frame4, on the alined trunnions 5, engaging gaging theA bolt I2 `which `passes `throughboth ends ofthe band, to lock the hutch in leveled position in one piane. 1f conditionsrhequire, the

frame 4 can be provided `with similar 4trlunnions such as 4', see dotted linesFig. 1, and a; locking| i means to `level theframe 4 within anotherllsurrounding frame 4", to level the hutch `enithe transverse plane. Thsin effectlprovides either a half or alfull gimbal mounting, whereby` the hutchmay be leveled on uneven ground or on a See my copending application `of `even, date,` entitled Mining machines and bearing Serial Number 42t',6(`)9.`

The hutch has the upper-tier I3, hinged at I4, I4, to the upper edge of the`hutch.`` The gasket I5, see Fig. 2, is interposed between the `top edge of the hutch and the lower edge of` the tier `I3 and adapted to be compressed by the screw clamps I6, disposed at intervals around the hutch to make a `watertight joint between ,the hutch and `the superimposed tier. `The bottom of i thetier consists of the screen I1., located `other uses within the `spirit of the invention as above the gasket level. 1

A series of compartments is formed above this screengby thebisecting partitions I8, I9, extending upwardly above the screen. Thefront end of ,the tier overhangsat 20, see Fig. l, to receive the flowing material. The bottom of this overhangr is provided with a block 2| of wood. or the like for reducing the `wear caused by the descending material. i

The compartments above with heavy pellets 22, preferably of steel,` lead or the like, about 1/8 of an inch indiameter. The ,incoming material ows across the tops `oi? these pellets and thenes suspended therein dscendI into `the interstices between thejpellets', through` the screen and into .the sump formed by the lower `portion of` the hutch. Theupper edges of the partitions and the pellets I8, I9 act as riles in the flow of the material to facilitate the separation of fthe nes from the flowing gangue. The floated particles` of ganguedischargeinto the inclined trough 23, for disposal atthe `side of the hutch. The concentrates, de-

i scend into the lower portion 2 of the hutch.

` The upper stratum of waterin the hutch below the screen I1 is surged in an upward direcin Qrs1v `Thenerinata# Waterflisplaag @Files The `friction'band 9 surrounding the` the screen, I'I are filled y intervening gasket to prevent leakage.

includes the casing 24, closed at both ends. This casing is located intermediate the upper boxlike portion I of the hutch immediately beneath the screen |1 and extends across the length of the The pipe 26 is screwed into the T fitting 21 il" both,`

behind the check valve 3l, which is connected by the flexible hose 29 with a source of auxiliary liquid supply. The opposite end of the casing 24 has a similar inlet 30 screwed intothe head `25 and the outlet from the "check valve 3|. The opposed auxiliary water inlets 26, 30, prevent the Aincomingliquid surging back and forth in the casing24. v i f Theincline planes `of the'top 'of the cas-ing are provided with aseries of outlet holes 33, respectively, and located `near the horizontal laxis of the casing. These V'out-lets are normally closed `by the series of valves such as 735,36, mounted upon springs 31, 38, fixed tothe casing and urging the valves closed over the' outlets 33,

34'. The waterflo'wing into'the casing through the Vcliec'k valve 3|, and the pipes 26, 30, jun* seats `these valves 35, 35"and"'escape's upward through the screen |1`w'hen the hutch is corn'- -pl'etely =filled' with water by thev Vincoming o'w sator, acting upon the auxiliary water inflow is an important feature of this invention in adjusting it to the requirements of various matewhen the head or' weight of auxiliary liquid at f fof material abovethepe'llets 2'2 and fthe auxfiliary' water supply. i

closed by being clamped around the plug-38`supi ported on the pin 38 fixed on the'end of the casing. The inlet end of `the tube is similarly clamped around the inlet nipple '39 extending lthrough the head 25 of the casing.` The'pulsartoi' 'tube 31 is enclosed withinA the perforated cylinderv 31- and surrounds' rthey perforated' tube .31" which limits its' distension 'and contraction by the pump strokesf' The iiexible hose -4-0 confnects the pulsator' v`31 with the "air pump.-y

, This pump preferably consistsof fthe' bellows 4| enclosed within a ventilated"protectivev casing 42, which is mounted upon the standard 43l supported bythe base 44,'wfhich Vmay be'part of the hutch support mounting l4". The bellows top has a flanged nipple 46 extending 'upward through the top of the casing '42 `to"which li'tli`s fixed. This nipple has 'the cross l`pipe fitting 41 connected with the hose 4U through `which Athe bellows impulses are communicated tothe pulsator 131. This fitting V41, has .the flutter valve 48 for 'admitting atmospheric pressure tothe 'bellowsto prevent minus pressure in thel bellows on the 'suction stroke; Thespringsetsafety valve 50 in thetting 41 provides furthe release ofexcessivejpressure in the bellows.y

Thelower end of the `bellows "4| is vattached `to the `plate 5|r having ythe stem y52, slidable 'in the guide '53 'on the standar-d 413; This stemy is pivoted to the )connecting rod 54, engaging the crank -pin 55,'. adjustable in the slotted head '56, f

rials being concentrated in the hutch.

`The check valve 3| can be dispensed with 29 exceeds the `force of the pulsator 31, enough to cause the liquid surge from thevcasing 24 to Apass upward through the separating means centration and its governing physical law is: n'Volume times density, times speed or power or plemented by the auxiliary supply of clear liquid through the inlets 26, 3U., through thecasing 24 and vou`t,' through the "outlets 33, '3`4, 'and upward through the upper lstratum of liquidfinthe hutchabo've the level of the l`casingf24i, to mingle with the material rippling across the topsfo'f lthe pellets.

During the `suction 'stroke of the bellows", the pulsator 31 contracts, 'during which interval the springs 38, 33, automatically 'close all the valves 35, '36 and permit the auxiliary ywater 'supply through thehose 2'9 rto -completely the casing 24.. e e d With the upstr'oke of the b'el'lows 4|" the "utter valve 48 and the check valve 3| brothA close when the pulsator 31 expands. This `forciblydis` places water from 'the I'casing/"24, which interimittently surges upwardly through the screen l1 and Athe int'erstices between the pellets 22, without lifting the pellets because y'of' their Aweight 'terspersed'among the pellets.Y These particlesv having greater density in proportion 4to ft-liei-r volume descend, whichY is in accordance with the above formula. The heavy interspersed'pellets 2'2 act as a coarse separating medium, throng-li which the auxiliary liquid supply' 29 isalways pulsated upwardly, Whiley the yhe'a'v-y particles of material precipitate.

` Particular attention is directed to theV "facttnat after the erst suing, 'the Vbody of water in the hutchat 'no time `moves downwardly withrespect to the screen Such a downward move' ment would tend to suck undesirable 'detritus into the hutch.

The practiceheretofore-of pulsating the'wliole body'o'f iwater inthe hutchhas been known to literally suck the impacted 'screen Voutof its frame. Such down-ward movement vminimize's the lconcentrating effect. 'This fdisadvanftag couldnot occurinthe present inventi'on.`

When the screen l1 andpeIlEts 22 becmefiiiefficient because of impacted' matter orcorrosion, the tier 3 can be swung'onl the hinges |4, up-1 side down over-a tray having aiscreen'b'ottomfof less mesh than the si'ze ofthe pellets. "The 'exposed lscreen -I-1 can be brushed ll'reefof obstructive matter and the pellets-'cleansed .by attrition and nushin'g. t i

Tlie-'quiescent or static body-or water 1in. 'the broadly stated the ifo-mima for accurate con;

2,868,223 hutch below the level of the pulsator casing `24,

permits the undisturbed precipitation of oat gold and other values suspended therein and having suicient weight to sink when not sup- `ported by the power of agitated liquid.

The merit of the" present invention is demonstrated in actual practice under field conditions,` by the accumulated concentrates of `precious metallic values in the hutch, associated with hematite, ferrie oxides, black sand and other` heavy particles; with only traces of silica, quartzr and `fine detritus. Tests of the discarded tailings show only traces of colloidal valuestoo small to be separated by any mechanical means.

n When the concentrates accumulate in the botltom 2 of the hutch to an obstructiveextent, they are drawn off through the gate 3 into a tub, to

` top extending along the length of said hutch in y proximity to said screen; outwardly opening check valves inthe top of and sealing said casing `from'the bodyv of `water in said-hutch and discharging outwardly from said casing and through said screen; means for directing a `fast iiowing i stream of material across the top of said layer of pellets and maintaining a liquid level in said hutch and tier above said layer of pellets; and auxiliary means for ejecting an `intermittent stream of liquid into said casing and through said gcheck valves and upwardly through said screen without agitating said staticbody` of liquidlbelow said casing.` l

2. A concentrator including a hutch having a` i static body ofliquil therein; a tier attached to be further processed by amalgamation, smelting or otherwise to save the metallic values.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art i.:

that materials, other `than auriferous ores and metallic" particles suspended i-n menstruum, can be separatedvby this invention,` according to their relative density `and volume in accordance with the law governing concentration above cited.

` Having thus described this invention," what is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

n said casing and sealingit from the "body of water-N 1. A concentrator including a hutchhaving a static body of liquid in its lower portion; `a tier attached to the upper portion of said hutch; a` screen formingthe bottom ofsaid tier; a `layer of relatively `heavypellets overlying said screen;` an elongated closedcasing in said hutch with its the upper portion of said hutch; a screen forming i the bottom of said tier; an elongated closed `casing in said hutch with itstop extending along the lengthof said hutch in proximity to said screen; outwardly opening check` valves in the top of in saidghutch and discharging outwardly from `said casing and through said screen; means for t directing a flowingstream of material through `said tier above said screen and maintaining a liquid level in said hutch above said screen;` an

expansive and contractive pulsator extending the length` ofand within said casing; a reciprocating pump discharging into said pulsator; a variable speed driving means forsaid pump; and means for varying the capacityof said pump. i

BERNE TOCCI-GUILBERT. t 

